Seriously though, I am wishing you loads and loads of good fortune, both for the trip and for your well being i general.

Metta.

MichaelThe thoughts I've expressed in the above post are carefully considered and offered in good faith.

And friendliness towards the world is happiness for him who is forbearing with living beings. -- Ud. 2:1To his own ruin the fool gains knowledge, for it cleaves his head and destroys his innate goodness. -- Dhp 72

My, you have been through such a difficult time, Sattva. May your practice help to carry you through with deeper equanimity.

Much metta.

~Chris

"As Buddhists, we should aim to develop relationships that are not predominated by grasping and clinging. Our relationships should be characterised by the brahmaviharas of metta (loving kindness), mudita (sympathetic joy), karuna (compassion), and upekkha (equanimity)."~post by Ben, Jul 02, 2009

My avatar is one of many calligraphies painted by my teacher. Mitra Bishop, Roshi. She has them for sale to try to raise money for her building project. Also, if you purchase books on Amazon, you can use Amazon Smile and put in Mountain Gate (In Ojo Sarco, NM) and a small % will go to the monastery.

alright i admit, i'm nervous again. In about 11-12 hours I will be getting the eye surgery. It went fine last time and i was actually pretty calm through the procedure. So maybe i will be tomorrow too, but right now I'm not. Breathe right?!

About a day later, and an hour or so later, I will be getting my picc line put it. They had some problems getting it in last time. Had to try both arms, but they eventually got one put in.... Just nervous and would welcome good thoughts sent my way.Thank you.sattva/louise

My avatar is one of many calligraphies painted by my teacher. Mitra Bishop, Roshi. She has them for sale to try to raise money for her building project. Also, if you purchase books on Amazon, you can use Amazon Smile and put in Mountain Gate (In Ojo Sarco, NM) and a small % will go to the monastery.

136. Having realised these seven dhammas the creatures had attained the Immortality, the Fearlessness, Birthless, decay-less and sickless stage; they be came transcendental and liberated from three existences. Oh thou! Let us recite this doctrine of Factors of Enlightenment;

If you have asked me of the origination of unease, then I shall explain it to you in accordance with my understanding: Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)

Exalted in mind, just open and clearly aware, the recluse trained in the ways of the sages:One who is such, calmed and ever mindful, He has no sorrows! -- Udana IV, 7

My avatar is one of many calligraphies painted by my teacher. Mitra Bishop, Roshi. She has them for sale to try to raise money for her building project. Also, if you purchase books on Amazon, you can use Amazon Smile and put in Mountain Gate (In Ojo Sarco, NM) and a small % will go to the monastery.

Hi Sattva,Totally appropriate. I often play sutta chants by my teacher or Sayagi U Ba Khin chanting the Tikapatthana during meditation.Play it during meditation or you could recite the text in either English or Pali.Whatever you decide to do it will support the arising of very wholesome dhammas. And according to the ancient literature, the recitation of this Paritta by oneself or others can assist in healing.I encourage you to play it every day or recite it every day.with metta,

Ben

Learn this from the waters:in mountain clefts and chasms,loud gush the streamlets,but great rivers flow silently.

My avatar is one of many calligraphies painted by my teacher. Mitra Bishop, Roshi. She has them for sale to try to raise money for her building project. Also, if you purchase books on Amazon, you can use Amazon Smile and put in Mountain Gate (In Ojo Sarco, NM) and a small % will go to the monastery.

If you have asked me of the origination of unease, then I shall explain it to you in accordance with my understanding: Whatever various forms of unease there are in the world, They originate founded in encumbering accumulation. (Pārāyanavagga)

Exalted in mind, just open and clearly aware, the recluse trained in the ways of the sages:One who is such, calmed and ever mindful, He has no sorrows! -- Udana IV, 7

The heart of the path is SO simple. No need for long explanations. Give up clinging to love and hate, just rest with things as they are. That is all I do in my own practice. Do not try to become anything. Do not make yourself into anything. Do not be a meditator. Do not become enlightened. When you sit, let it be. When you walk, let it be. Grasp at nothing. Resist nothing. Of course, there are dozens of meditation techniques to develop samadhi and many kinds of vipassana. But it all comes back to this - just let it all be. Step over here where it is cool, out of the battle. - Ajahn Chah

I got my picc line in this morning and it went well. Better than the first time actually because they didn't attempt it in the arm they had problems with before. Tomorrow I start the actual IV treatments. They go until sometime in March. This has really got to work because they are running out of options on what to do with me.

After I had the picc line put in, I went to Wound Care. What a surprise to actually see the faces that went with voices. No one looked at all like i thought, but how wonderful just to see!!!

Thanks again for all the support! I can't even begin to tell anyone how difficult the last few years have been. There are times i wished i would just die and not have to deal with it anymore. Of course, there are other times i took it more in stride, but the ongoing ups and downs can take their toll even though you may not care to admit it. Kindnesses, especially when you know they are heart-felt, can feel like the warmth and brightness of the sun after a long cold winter. You just want to bake/bask in it, to never feel the cold again. But of course, that's not possible, maybe not even desireable.

Anyway, for those who have shown me such kindness, I offer my deepest thanks.

Last edited by sattva on Tue Jan 17, 2012 9:11 pm, edited 1 time in total.

My avatar is one of many calligraphies painted by my teacher. Mitra Bishop, Roshi. She has them for sale to try to raise money for her building project. Also, if you purchase books on Amazon, you can use Amazon Smile and put in Mountain Gate (In Ojo Sarco, NM) and a small % will go to the monastery.

Not as much as we thank you for being here and sharing with us. So many things have come to mind from your posts which would not have, without your generous sharing.

May you be healthy and strong, and may you be happy of heart and mind.

with mahametta,Chris

---The trouble is that you think you have time------Worry is the Interest, paid in advance, on a debt you may never owe------It's not what happens to you in life that is important ~ it's what you do with it ---

Sometimes i feel like a yo-yo ball. Wasn't it only about a week or so ago that they told me that i was too high risk to do the hyperbaric chamber? Today at the Wound Care Center the doctor brought up the subject again. Seems she has been consulting with some of my other doctors and those that have talked have decided, I should try it. They still want to talk to my pulmonary doctor. I actually had stopped by his office (which is in the same building) on my way to the other appointment because when i have had my IV treatments the last 2 days, my oxygen saturation level is down. It is running between 88-91. I personally think the fluid needs drained out of the right pleural cavity again. I am getting very short of breath. He isn't in on Fridays and so she told me to keep track of it this weekend and let them know on Monday how it is doing.

Anyway next Tuesday they will take tcoms (which they did before many months ago) to see if it looks like I would do well getting the hyperbaric treatment. If we do the hyperbaric treatment, they will use some kind of heart monitering device on me during it. Apparently, they will try to work it around my IV treatments, but i will be spending several hours each day at the hospital. I actually need to cut this short because i have to be back in less than 2 hours for the IV treatment for today.

Knowing the past tells me that all this may change tomorrow !!! I'll keep you all posted

My avatar is one of many calligraphies painted by my teacher. Mitra Bishop, Roshi. She has them for sale to try to raise money for her building project. Also, if you purchase books on Amazon, you can use Amazon Smile and put in Mountain Gate (In Ojo Sarco, NM) and a small % will go to the monastery.

I'm sorry I only just found this thread. You have been through a lot, which should show you you are strong, capable, balanced and able to endure what lays ahead. My thoughts are with you, sending a lot of Metta your way. It sounds like you have a lot of skilled experts and a lot of faithful friends doing thier best to support you.